Inking device for typewriting machines



Sept. 15, 1959 c, 552115;: ETAL 2,904,160

' INKING DEVICE FOR: TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed April so, 1958 4 SheetE-Sheet 1 FIG.1I

' EINVENTORS EY fly/5W ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1959 i c. F. SELZER ETAL 2,904,160

INKING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed April so, 1958, 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Koert TColbur/Z Max z5erf ATTORNEY I INVENTORS C/arvzzceffelzer p 1959 c. F. SELZER ETAL 2,904,160

INKING DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed April 30, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS CZGZFUCFS/Zf 056 275 7750/1521??? Max 2:796:25

ATTORNEY 2,904,160 nsnmo DEVICE non TYPEWRITING MACHINES Clarence F. Selzer and Robert T. Colbnrn, Fort Lee, and Max Ebert, Ridgefield, N.J., assignors to Inventors Clinic, Fort Lee, N.J., a partnership Application April 30, 1958, Serial No. 731,947 I 17 Claims. (Cl. 197-150) This invention relates to a device for inking the type faces in typewriter machines; and more particularly, concerns inking means which is swingable into contact with such type faces for transferring ink to the same.

Conventional inking means in typewriter machines, in the form of ribbons and ribbon transporting means, present a number of problems as to manufacture, use and replacement. The outstanding disadvantage of ribbons is the necessity for their frequent replacement, particularly when the machines are being operated almost continuously, as in the case of teletypewriters and the like. Aside from the substantial expense involved, each ribbon change involves an interruption in the operation of the machine, as well as a complicated changing procedure and an inescapable soilage of the hands.

Additionally, ribbons being made of fabric or paper are especially susceptible to rapid physical deterioration due to the repeated direct impact of the type bars thereon, which in turn results in a decrease in the sharpness of the imprint and accompanied by a fuziness in the appearance of the printed characters. This is particularly evident when the type faces are quite small.

Also, a new ribbon is over-inked in an attempt to extend the efiective life of the ribbon. As a result, the initial printings of the ribbon are overly dark, give rise to smudging and thereafter produce progressively lighter imprints; thus failing to obtain a uniformity in appearance of the typed copy during the effective life of a given ribbon.

Furthermore, the ribbon spools and ribbon transporting mechanism present problems in portable typewriting machines, particularly when such machines are tilted during their transportation, resulting in the ribbon spools falling out of the machine.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide improved means for inking the type faces on the type bars of a typewriting machine, such means having ink supply means of very large capacity yet compact in form, thereby substantially increasing the intervals between renewal of the ink supply and such renewal being efiected rapidly, simply and without soiling.

Another object of this invention is to provide means of the character described, which comprises a small num-' ber of component parts; which is readily and quickly attachable to typewriting machines without modification of the typewriter structure; and which is powered by a simple connection to actuating portions of the machine.

without overloading the same.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means of the character described, which includes a stationary ink reservoir in combination with ink transfer means movable between the reservoir and the type faces on the type bars during the inking operation; the ink reservoir holding substantial quantities of ink which is passed in uniform amounts to the ink transfer means by contact, at intervals between movements of thetransfer means; the

face to face contact of the reservoir and transfer means Patented Sept. 15, 1959 ice during rest periods preventing contamination thereof by dust or other foreign matter. 7

Yet another object of this invention is to provide ink transfer means movable in a substantially arcuate path between an ink reservoir and the type faces of a typewriting machine; the movement of said means being modified at the opposite ends of said path in a manner to insure maximum pickup of ink from the reservoir and umform transfer of ink to said type faces, while subtantially reducing incident wear of the operative surface portions of the transfer means.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide improved inking means which includes ink transfer and ink reservoir elements which may be quickly replaced and are of minimum cost.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, an ink transfer element operative to accommodate its ink transferring surface to the type faces in the rest position of the type bars, even though some of said type faces are in slightly elevated or depressed positions in respect to the proper positions thereof, so as to effect a uniform transfer of ink to all type faces.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide inking means of the character described, which permits the production of clear, sharply defined typed copy at all times and avoids the incidence of lint, fiber or other foreign material injurious to the operation of the typewriter and tending to impair the quality of the typed copy.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved inking means of the character described, which may be used in lieu of the conventional ribbon inking means, or, alternatively, may be used in combination therewith, in which case said inking means is operative to reink the ribbon and thus continually replace ink taken out of the ribbon in the typing operation, thereby substantial-1y extending the useful life of the ribbon. With both types of inking means associated with the machine, they may be used simultaneously or independently of each other, to suit operational circumstances.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved inking means for typewriting machines which is economical to manufacture; which gives rise to substantial economies in use and which is of a rugged construction well adapted to meet conditions of operation.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and -in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a partial front elevational view of a typewriting machine incorporating the inking device of the instant invention;

'Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the details of said device;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of an end portion of a component thereof;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the path of movement of the ink transferring means as related to the movement of the actuating means therefor;

Figs. 6-12 show the successive positions of the associated parts of the inking device during a complete cycle of operation thereof.

The inking means of the instant invention is adapted to be used with typewriting machines having type bars movable between a rest position and typing position, with type faces on said type bars. The type bars are supported in their rest position by a curved back stop, the bars being in side by side relation with their typefaces uppermost and in a curved arrangement. The inking means is attachable to frame portions of typewriting machines, and for the purpose of illustration, is hereinafter shown in association specifically with a teletypewriter;

3 it being understood that it may also be used with other forms of typewriting machines.

The inking device of the instant invention comprises essentially a stationary ink reservoir mounted on the machine frame adjacent the 'type bars in their rest position, and a .movable ink transfer means which is normally disposed in contact with the ink reservoir to receive ink therefrom, the transfer means being movable in response to each actuation of a selected type bar, to a position wherein the same is pressed into contact with the type faces of the type bars at rest, whereby ink is transferred to such type faces; the movement of the transfermeans being coordinated with the movement of the selected type bars so as to avoid conflict therebetween.

Furthermore, the transfer means moves through an essentially arcuate path which is modified at the initial and terminal portions thereof to include short vertical movements whereby the face of the transfer means may be tightly pressed against the opposed face of the ink reservoir in the one case to effect efficient transfer of ink from the latter to the former, and in the other case, the face of the transfer means is tightly pressed against the typefaces to uniformly transfer ink to the type faces of all the type bars at rest.

As shown, in Fig. 1, 1'0 designates a conventional teletypewriting machine, such as shown in detail in Patent No. 1,904,164 and to which, the inking means embodyi'ng the invention, may be attached. Machine includes a frame portion generally indicated at 11, which carries a number of machine components including pull bars 12 which are selectively actuated through electrically operated mechanism, not shown, and described in detail in said patent.

A type bar 13 carrying a type face 14 is associated with each pull bar 12, the type bar being moved to bring the type face thereon to a typing position against paper not shown, carried by platen P, upon selective actuation of the associated pull bar 12. The type bars 13 in their rest positions are supported at their outer ends by a cushioned back stop 15 which is curved from end to end, thus 10- eating the type faces 14 in an arcuate arrangement.

means 160. The ribbon R and its associated spools may be removed from the mechanism 16, or, if desired, "the ribbon may be retained for use in conjunction with the ink "transfer means of the instant invention, as hereinafter described.

The inking device of the instant invention comprises a pair of similar brackets generally indicated at 17, respectively disposed on opposite sides of frame portions of machine 10 and secured at the lower ends thereof by screws 18. The bracket members '17 carry between the upper ends thereof a curved ink holder or reservoir 19. A pair of similar linkage'means are respectively mounted on brackets 17, said linkage means carrying therebetween a curved ink transfer means generally indicated at 21, for movement between positions contacting the reservoir 19 and the type faces '14 of type bars 13.

Each bracket member 17, in the form of a flat plate,

comprises a lower, horizontal arm portion 1811 through which screws 18 pass to secure the same to machine 10 and a horizontal arm portion 22 parallel to arm portion 18a, forming 'a rearwardly extending slot 23, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The bracket members 17 further include upwardly extending portions 24 for receiving screws 24a for securing the opposite ends of ink reservoir 19 thereto.

, terminating in a short upturned portion 27. A short link 28 is pivoted at one end thereof to arm portion 27, as at 29. A long link 30 is pivoted at its rear end to the other 4 end of link 28, as at 31. Link 30 is formed at its forward end with a corner portion 32 which is pivotally connected to the upper end of a slotted link 33, as at 34.

Link 33 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a slotted actuating plate 35, as at 36; plate 35 having a lower, forward corner portion thereof pivotally mounted on bracket member 17, adjacent the forward end of slot 23 therein, as at 37. Plate 35 is formed with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined arm portion 38, which, together with an opposed, spaced portion 39, forms a slot 49 extending upwardly and rearwardly, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Link 33 is formed on an intermediate portion thereof with an elongated, longitudinally extending slot 41 for receiving a combination guide and pivot pin 42 fixed to bracket 17, thus allowing link 33 to have both pivoted and sliding movement. A spring 42 is attached at one end to an upper portion of actuating plate 35 adjacent pivot means 36, and at the other end to a pin 43 fixed to and extending outwardly of a short forwardly extending projection on bracket member 17.

Means is provided for actuating the linkage means 2% so as to impart movement to ink transfer means 21 througr a predetermined path, as hereinafter described in detail. To this end a bail element 44 found in typewriting machine's of the character described in detail in said Patent 1,904,164, which has reciprocable horizontal movement coincident with the movement of a selected type bar 13, as described in said patent; projects through slot 23 in bracket 17 and has afiixed thereto a forwardly projecting roller 45.

Roller 45 on bail element 44 is disposed to engage a horizontal camrning edge 46 on actuating plate arm portion 38, when said bail element 44 is in its rear-most, rest position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Ink holder or reservoir 19 may take the form of a channeled member for receiving therein a porous, compressible pad 47 made of natural or synthetic rubber sponge. Pad 47 is adapted to carry a supply of ink in the pores thereof. Pad 47 and its holder 19 may be quickly removed from brackets 17, for replacement, when the ink supply is exhausted.

Ink transfer means 21 comprises a curved metal strip 48 having affixed to the underside thereof, a thin, porous pad 49 of a curvature end to end thereof which is complementary to that of pad 47. As shown in Fig. 1, in the rest position of ink transfer means 21, the transfer pad 49 thereof contacts reservoir pad 47 to receive ink therefrom.

Strip 48 is detachably mounted on linkages 20. To this end, an attachment plate 50 is fixed to the left hand end of strip 48, said plate 50 being formed with an open end slot 51. The link 30 on the left hand linkage means 2i), looking at Fig. 2, is formed at its forward end with an upstanding projection 52 with a neck portion 53, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus, strip 48 may be engaged at its left hand end with left linkage means 20', the neck portion 53 being received in slot 51 of attachment plate 50.

At the right hand end of strip 48 an outwardly projecting attachment plate 54 is secured thereto, said plate 54 being formed with a T shaped opening 55 for receiving the upstanding projection 52 on the link 30 of the right hand linkage means 20, the neck portion 53 being held in the narrow portion of opening 55 by means of a strip spring member 56 fixed at its lower end to said link 30 and having an upstanding portion 57 abutting the outer edge of plate 54 to urge strip 48 to the left, looking at Fig. 2, thereby maintaining transfer means 21 in engaged relation to linkages 20.

To remove the'ink transfer means 21 from linkages 20, for replacement or the like, it is only necessary to move the spring portion 57 to the right which allows strip 48 to the shifted in the same direction, thus permitting the strip to be lifted from link projections 53.

The operation .of the inking means may be described as follows, reference being made in this connection to Figs. 5 to 12.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the ink reservoir 19 is located forwardly and adjacent the type faces 14 of type bars 13 in their rest position on back stop 15. The pad 49 on ink transfer means 21 is in contact with the pad 47 of reservoir 19 and the outer surface of pad 49 is substantially aligned with the type faces 14.

Thus, in the rest position of all the type bars 13, bail element 44 is in its extreme rear position, causing roller 45 to bear against camming edge 46 on actuating plate 35. This will bias plate 35 in a clockwise direction about pivot 37 and pull link 33 downwardly to bias links 30 downwardly. As a result, transfer pad 49 will be tightly pressed against reservoir pad 47, causing ink from pad 49 to pass to pad 47 by pressure contact and capillary action.

Assuming that in the operation of machine 10, a selected type bar 13 has been actuated, bail element 44 will move to the left as indicated in Figs. 6, 7, for a very short time interval during which the selected type bar 13 is still at rest. Thereafter, continued movement of the bail element 44 will initiate the movement of the selected type bar, indicated at 13a, as shown in Fig. 8. At this time, roller 45 will enter slot 40 of actuating plate 35, causing said plate to turn about pivot 37 in a counterclockwise direction, thus causing link 33 to slide along pivot 42, thereby imparting a short, vertical lifting movement to transfer pad 49, moving the same away from reservoir pad 47.

Continued movement of bail element 44 will cause link 33 to execute pivoted movement, thereby moving transfer pad 49 in an arcuate path toward the type faces 14 of type bars 13 at rest; the actuated type bar 13a having continued its movement toward platen P and its typing position, thereby leaving the moving transfer pad 49 free to approach the type faces 14. Such movement is continued as link 33 completes its pivoted movement about pivot 42, terminating in a very short, downward vertical movement as the link slides on said pivot, thereby bringing pad 49 downwardly to contact the type faces 14 and to transfer ink thereto, as indicated in Fig. 10. As the bail element 44 reverses its direction of movement, the operation of the linkages 20 is also reversed, causing transfer pad 49 to be lifted vertically from type faces 14, moved in an arcuate path toward the reservoir 19, thus clearing the way for the return of the selected type bar 13a to its rest position, as shown in Fig. 11. The cycle is completed when the roller 45 engages cam edge 46 on plate 35, bringing the transfer pad 49 back into contact with reservoir pad 47, and all the type bars 13 are at rest.

In Fig. 5, the progressive positions of transfer pad 49 are plotted as the same moves from its rest position to type face engaging position, in relation to the movement of bail element 44, the fixed pivot point 37 and the movable pivot points 34, 36 and 42, thus illustrating the intermediate arcuate path together with the initial and terminal vertical portions thereof through which transfer pad 49 moves.

The soft transfer pad 49 will accommodate itself to any irregularities in the disposition of the type faces 14 with the type bars 13 at rest, to insure proper inking of all type faces, said inking action being facilitated by the vertical movement of the pad towards the type faces. Such vertical movement also materially reduces wear of the pad surface by substantially eliminating abrasion action in respect to the type faces, this extending the life of said transfer pad.

Springs 42 act in conjunction with bail element 44 to movel inkages 20, thereby reducing the load on the bail element. Thus, machine is not overloaded by the power requirement for actuating said linkages.

It will be apparent, that with the arrangement of linkages 20 and the actuating plates 35 thereof, the normal operation of bail element 44 is unaffected, while the movement of transfer pad 49 is correlated to the movement of the selected type bar 13 so as to complete the movement of said pad in inking the type faces 14 of the type bars 13 at rest, before the selected type bar 13 is restored to its normal, rest position. Thus, each time a type bar 13 is actuated, the type faces 14 of the remaining type bars at rest, are inked.

If desired, the inking means of the instant invention as described above, may also be used in conjunction with the ribbon R and its conventional transport mechanism 16. The operation of the inking means will remain unchanged, except that the type faces 14 inked by said means will, upon actuation of the type bars 13, impinge on ribbon R and thereby transfer ink to said ribbon. Thus, the ink which is progressively removed from ribbon R when operating machine 10 under conventional conditions; is effectively re-inked by the inking means of the instant invention, allowing the useful life of a conventional ribbon to be very substantially increased.

Furthermore, when machine 10 is provided with both ribbon R and the novel inking means, said machine can be operated with either form of inking device, or both, at the option of the user.

It is apparent that pads 47, 49 may be quickly replaced when necessary, and further, may be interchanged to provide inks of different color for any given machine it Such changes, at relatively long operating intervals, may be made Without soiling and in a simple manner.

It will also be apparent that the novel inking means may be readily attached to conventional typewriting machaines without changing the basic structure thereof. Furthermore, such inking means may be associated with various forms of typewriting machines, suitable connections being made between the linkages of the inking means and any direct or auxiliary power means on the machines.

As various changes could be'made in the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein shall be deemed illustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

'Having thus disclosed our invention, we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. In a typewriting machine having movable type bars and type faces thereon, and means for actuating selected type bars for movement between rest and typing positions thereof, inking means for said type faces comprising ink reservoir means fixedly attached to said machine, ink transfer means mounted for movement between positions in opposed, spaced relation to said reservoir means and the type faces of the type bars in the rest position thereof, means for moving said ink transfer means between said positions and into and out of contact with said reservoir means and said last mentioned type faces at the terminal ends of its movement between said positions, and means responsive to the operation of said type bar actuating means for actuating said transfer moving means.

2. In a machine as in claim 1 and further including means for coordinating the movement of said transfer means in relation to the movement of the selected type bar to bring said transfer means to the second mentioned position thereof after the selected type bar has moved away from its rest position.

3. In a machine as in claim 2 wherein said transfer moving means includes means for imparting a short vertical movement to said transfer means as the same leaves or approaches said reservoir means; a short vertical movement to said transfer means as the same approaches or leaves the type faces of the type bars in their rest position; and an arcuate movement connecting said vertical movements.

4. In a machine as in claim 3 and further including means for pressing said transfer means into contact with said transfer means.

5. In a typewriting machine having movable type bars and type faces thereon, and means for actuating selected type bars to move the type faces thereon to typing position, inking means for said type faces including an ink transfer pad, means for supporting said pad, means for mounting said pad supporting means for initial movement between a rest position and a position in opposed, spaced relation to the type faces at rest, means for moving said transfer pad between said positions and from said last mentioned position thereof towards and away from the type faces at rest, and means connecting said moving means and said type bar actuating means to irnpart movement thereto.

6. A machine as in claim wherein said mounting means comprises a linkage including link members arranged to impart arcuate movement to said supporting means.

7. A machine as in claim 6 wherein one of said link members is formed to impart vertical movement to said supporting means at the opposite ends of the arcuate movement thereof.

8. A machine as in claim 5 wherein said pad supporting means and said linkage include interengageable means for detachably connecting said pad supporting means to said linkage.

9. A machine as in claim 5 and further including ink reservoir means, means for fixedly attaching said reservoir means on said machine adjacent the outer ends of said type bars in the rest position thereof, said reservoir means including an ink holding pad curved from end to end, said transfer pad being curved from end to end and in contact with said ink holding pad throughout the length thereof in the rest position of said transfer pad.

10. In a typewriting machine having type bars movable between rest and typing positions and movable bail means for actuating said type bars, inking means for the type faces on said type bars comprising a compressible ink reservoir pad, means on said machine for holding said pad in a fixed position adjacent the outer ends of said type bars in their rest position, a pair of brackets respectively mounted on opposite sides of said machine, a compressible ink transfer pad, means for movably mounting said transfer pad on said brackets including linkage means mounted on each bracket, each linkage means including interpivoted links and means for pivotally mounting said interpivoted links on said brackets, said linkage means being operative upon movement thereof to move said transfer pad between a position thereof in contact with said reservoir pad and a position thereof "in contact with the type faces of the type bars in their rest position, and means on said linkage means engageable with said bail means for moving said linkage means in response to movement of said bail means.

11. A machine as in claim 10 wherein each linkage means comprises a slotted link member having combined pivoted and sliding movement relative to the bracket associated therewith whereby said'transfer pad has a path of movement including an intermediate arcuate portion and short vertical portions at either end of said arcuate portion.

12. A machine as in claim 11 wherein each linkage means comprises an actuating plate pivotally mounted on the bracket associated therewith and pivotally connected to one end of said slotted link member, said plate having means engageable by said bail means for pivoting said plate upon movement of said bail means.

13. A machine as in claim 12 and further including auxiliary means for imparting pivoted movement to said plate.

14. A machine as in claim 12 and further including a camming portion on said plate engageable by said bail means and arranged to produce a movement of said linkage means in a directionv operative to compress the transfer pad against the reservoir padin the rest position of said transfer pad.

15. A machine as in claim 12 wherein each linkage means comprises a link member interpivoted to the other end of said slotted link member, said transfer pad including means at the opposite ends thereof for detachably engaging adjacent portions of the said link members .of the linkage means.

16. In a typewriting machine having movable type bars, an ink containing ribbon for impact by the type faces of said type bars as said type bars move to typing position, means for actuating selected type bars for movement between rest and typing positions, means for re-inking said ribbon comprising an ink transfer pad, means for mounting said pad for movement into contact with the type faces of the type bars at rest, and means for moving said mounting means in response to the operation of said actuating means to bring said pad into contact with said type faces, whereby ink in said pad is transferred to said ribbon to replace ink removed therefrom by way of the type faces on said type bars.

17. In a typewriting machine having movable type bars and an ink containing ribbon for impact by the type faces of said type bars, and means for re-inking said ribbon to replace the ink removed therefrom during typing, said means including ink transfer means mounted on said machine for movement into inking engagement with the type faces of the type bars at rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 555,594 Wolter Mar. 3, 1896 640,352 Aguilar Jan. 2, 1900 801,763 Brandl Oct. 10, 1905 862,774 Walker Aug. 6, 1907 

